Mining-machine



C. E. DAVIS.

IVHNING MACHINE.

APPLICAHON FILED MAR 28. 1921.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILLD MAIL 28, I921.

1,399,380, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lfivenfor Charles Z .Z cwz'5. W3, )Eaik UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MINING-MACHINE.

Application filed March 28, 1921.

which is capable of use in narrow or thin seams of coal.

In a prior application, Serial Number 375,073, filed by me April 22nd, 1920-, I have described and claimed several features of a mining machine similar to that described herein. The present application relates particularly to the construction and combinationof certain elements of the mining machine which are important features of a continuous cutter type of mining machine requiring a minimum amount of headspace, but are not specifically pointed out in the aforesaid application. More specifi cally, the present application relates to a novel construction and arrangement of the motor, a supporting frame mounted forwardly thereof, a cutter bar carried by the supporting frame and in longitudinal alinement with said frame and motor casing, and the draft devices associated with said machine and used for moving the machine bodily in a lateral direction as the cutting operation proceeds.

As heretofore constructed, mining machines of the continuous cutter type have comprisedan elongated frame having a cutter bar extending from one end thereof and longitudinally of the axis of the machine.

As the, kerf is made, such machines are moved sidewise, or laterally by means of a power driven draft device having connection with the machine adjacent the forward or mine wall end thereof and also being provided with some retarding device for the rear end of the frame, such as a second draft device, for maintaining the machine at the desired angle with respect to the mine wall. The motor and driving mechanism for the machine have been mounted on a plane above the cutter chain and a passageway Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Serial No. 456,076.

has been provided under the motor to permit the cuttings or slack brought rearwardly from the kerf by the cutter chain to be discharged from the rear of the machine. It has been shown, however, that a machine having a motor and passageway arranged as above described is not adaptable for use in very narrow or thin veins due to the fact that the overall height of the machine which is controlled by the combined height of the passageway and the motor mounted thereabove, is too great to be used under such conditions. In the present invention, I provide an improved arrangement whereby the maximum head-space or clearance of the entire machine is that required by the motor alone and in which the draft device is so arranged and connected-to one side of the machine in substantially the same plane as the cutter bar, so as to move the entire machine laterally during the cutting operation.

The invention consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

Referrin now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan v1ew of the machine in'cutting position along the wall of the mine. Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine showing the cutter bar in cross-section and having a portion of the machine broken away to show ,the arrangement of the draft device. Fig.

3 is a view in elevation of the following side of the machine, that is to say, the side' opposite to which the draft de'viceis attached.

In the drawings, which illustrate one form in. which my invention may be embodied, the mining machine comprises three main elements, namely, a motor casing A, supporting frame B, mounted forwardly of said casing and a cutter arm C extending longitudinally from the forward or wall end of said frame. A motor such as an electric motor indicated at 10, is mounted within the casing preferably with its armature horizontally disposed and longitudinally of the machine as shown. The frame member B is detachably connected to the motor casing A and to ether with said motor form the bottom pfiite upon which the machine is adapted to slide on the mine floor. (See Fig. 3.) The cutter bar C extends a plane above the bottom plate 11 upon which the machine rests and is provided with a movable cutter chain 12 made upof suitable chain blocks 13, 13 having projecting cutter bits 14, 14 as shown. The rear end of the cutter chain is trained about a sprocket 15 in a recessed portion 16 of the frame B. Suitable gearing connection from the motor to the sprocket is mounted on the frame B, such as indicated by the armature pinion 17, bevel pinion 18 and geared members 19 and 20 carried in the frame B.

The draft device for moving the machine comprises a flexible cable 21 or" its equivalent which is anchored in advance of the machine and is trained about a guide 22 and thence to a winding cable 23 preferabl mounted on the advance side of the frame and'having its axis extending transversely thereof. Suitable driving means are provided for the winding drum 23 such as worm gear 24 engaginglthe sprocket operating gear 20 and having connection with the said winding drum through gear members 25 and 26, planetary transmission mechanism 27 and gear train 28. The guide member 22 is mounted on the forward or wall end of the frame B and is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the cutter bar C. (See Fig. 2). I find that it' is necessary to arrange the cutter bar and the forward draft guide in the same plane as described so that the machine will cut a kerf at the proper level predetermined by the distance of the cutter bar above the bottom plate 11 of the mining machine. In other words, if the guiding sheave 22 is placed above or below the horizontal plane of movement of the cutter chain, the machine tends to be de- -flected either upwardly or downwardly with I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, in combination, a motor, a frame member mounted forwardly of said motor, said motor and said frame member forming a bottom plate upon which the machine slides on the mine bottom, a cutter bar provided with a cutter chain, and extending longitudinally from the forward or wall end of said frame, a power-driven draft device, a guide for said draft device mounted adjacent the forward end of said frame and substantially in the same horizontal plane with said cutter arm, and means for retarding the rear end of the machine, whereby said machine may be moliied laterally along the face of a mine wa 2. In a mining machine, in combination; an electric motor having a casing, a frame member mounted forwardly of said motor, said motor casing and said frame member forming a bottom plate upon which the machine slides on the mine bottom, a cutter bar provided with a cutter chain, and extending longitudinally from the forward or wall end of said frame, a power-driven draft device, a guide for said draft device mount ed adjacent the forward end of said frame and substantially in the same horizontal plane with said cutter arm, and means for retarding the rear end of the machine, whereby said machine may be moved laterally along the face of a mine wall.

3. In a mining machine, in combination,

a motor, a frame member mounted forwardly of said motor, said motor and. said frame member forming a bottom plate u on which the machine slides on the mine, ottom, a longitudinally disposed cutter bar provided with a cutter chain, and rigid with respect to said frame, a power-driven draft device, a guide for said draft device mounted adjacent the forward end of said frame and substantially in the same horizontal plane with said cutter arm, and means for retarding the rear end of the machine, whereby said machine may be moved laterally along the face of a mine wall.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 25th day of March, 1921.

CHARLES E. DAVIS. 

